Jimmy Walker chokes up on the club, having to take an uneven stance in a green front bunker at 14 during the third round of the 2014 Valero Texas Open on March 29, 2014 at TPC San Antonio.

Jimmy Walker chokes up on the club, having to take an uneven stance in a green front bunker at 14 during the third round of the 2014 Valero Texas Open on March 29, 2014 at TPC San Antonio.

Photo: For The San Antonio Express-News

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Jimmy Walker drives on the 15th during the third round of the 2014 Valero Texas Open on March 29, 2014 at TPC San Antonio.

Jimmy Walker drives on the 15th during the third round of the 2014 Valero Texas Open on March 29, 2014 at TPC San Antonio.

Photo: For The San Antonio Express-News

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Freddie Jacobson practices his swing on a rock ledge above the 12 green where he had climbed up to get a better vantage point during the third round of the 2014 Valero Texas Open on March 29, 2014 at TPC San Antonio. less

Freddie Jacobson practices his swing on a rock ledge above the 12 green where he had climbed up to get a better vantage point during the third round of the 2014 Valero Texas Open on March 29, 2014 at TPC San ... more

Photo: For The San Antonio Express-News

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Steven Bowditch hits out of the left side sand trap at 12 during the third round of the 2014 Valero Texas Open on March 29, 2014 at TPC San Antonio.

Steven Bowditch hits out of the left side sand trap at 12 during the third round of the 2014 Valero Texas Open on March 29, 2014 at TPC San Antonio.

Photo: For The San Antonio Express-News

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Steven Bowditch hits a shot off the turf on the back nine during the third round of the 2014 Valero Texas Open on March 29, 2014 at TPC San Antonio.

Steven Bowditch hits a shot off the turf on the back nine during the third round of the 2014 Valero Texas Open on March 29, 2014 at TPC San Antonio.

Photo: For The San Antonio Express-News

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Kevin Na watches his birdie putt drop on No. 12 en route to a third-round 69. Na is 7-under, five shots back of leader Steven Bowditch.

Kevin Na watches his birdie putt drop on No. 12 en route to a third-round 69. Na is 7-under, five shots back of leader Steven Bowditch.

Photo: TOM REEL

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Freddie Jacobson blasts out of a sand trap on No. 12 en route to a 73. Jacobson is 3-under going into today.

Freddie Jacobson blasts out of a sand trap on No. 12 en route to a 73. Jacobson is 3-under going into today.

Photo: TOM REEL

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Escape acts keep Bowditch in lead

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SAN ANTONIO — Steven Bowditch spent most of his day, it seemed, beyond the cart path, among the cactuses and rocks.

Miraculously, he was able to scramble out of trouble every time.

That included a clutch par save on No. 11 when he was able to hit his second shot 149 yards — through a mesquite tree — within 13 feet of the pin.

“I only had to miss a decent-sized branch,” the 30-year-old Australian said. “The rest was sort of twigs. I guess I just got lucky.”

Be it luck or skill, such shots were commonplace for Bowditch on Saturday at the AT&T Oaks Course.

The result was a 4-under 68, putting him at 12-under 204 overall with a three-shot lead heading into the final round of the Valero Texas Open.

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On a day when Phil Mickelson withdrew because of injury, Bowditch and PGA Tour rookie Andrew Loupe entertained and confounded the gallery with their ability to make shots and wiggle off the hook.

Loupe, a former LSU standout, shot a 2-under 70 to tie Matt Kuchar for second with 9-under 207.

Kuchar, No. 11 on the Official World Golf rankings, birdied four of his first five holes on his way to a 7-under 65, the best round of the tournament.

Bowditch, Loupe and Kuchar will play in the final group. Kuchar has more tour wins (six) than his two playing partners combined (zero).

Bowditch had never led a tour event after 36 holes until Saturday, let alone after 54.

He doesn't know exactly how he'll react to the pressure.

“I've never really been in this position,” said Bowditch, whose best finish on the PGA Tour was a tie for second at last year's Greenbrier Classic. “I'm just going to take it one shot at a time, one hole at a time. That's all I can do.

“Hopefully, I'll have a fun day out there.”

Good starts the past two rounds have helped him.

Saturday, Bowditch rolled in a 23-foot putt for birdie on No. 1, then holed out from 84 feet for eagle on No. 2.

That gained him some separation from his closest pursuers, at least temporarily. And it gave him confidence.

Some of his best work came on par saves out of the native areas. On more than one occasion, he could be seen tossing boulders out of his way to set up his shot.

Almost every time, he was able to wriggle out of a jam.

On No. 12, his chip from the bunker landed 11/2 feet from the hole for an easy par.

He hit only eight of 18 greens in regulation on the day yet was able to shoot 4-under because of his exquisite short game.

Bowditch played the final 16 holes at 1-under.

Kuchar was surprised by his round under the conditions.

“The wind was blowing 15-20 (mph) like it has been, but from the opposite direction (from the first two rounds),” he said.

“So you just had to adjust on the fly.”

He had only one bogey on the day to go with eight birdies.

Mickelson withdrew after pulling an oblique muscle during his tee shot on No. 10. He had entered the Texas Open late hoping to hone his game for the Masters.